Scottish Privy Council Records

Att Edinburgh the Sixth day of Februarij J^aj vj^c and nyntie three years Councill Called Extraordinarie

A1693/2/10¹

Letter: royal

Kings Letter anent the schem of the militia, proclamation for calling out the heretors, Bringing home armes Shirreffs new establishment, Duke of Hamilton to preside in all Commissiones officers of state to be auditors of accompts and the toun of Edinburgh electione

A Letter from the King to the Councill anent the Schem of the Militia and others as on the Margent and being read in Councill wes ordered to be recorded whereoff the tenor followes
Sic Suprascribitur William Rex
Right trustie and Right well beloved Cousigne and Councillour Right trustie and Intirely beloved Cousignes and Councillours Right trustie and Right well beloved Cousigne and Councillour Right trustie and well beloved Cousignes and Councillours Right trustie and well beloved Councillours Trustie and well beloved Councillours Wee Greett yow well Wee Give yow our thanks for your diligence In order to put the natione in a posture of security and defence Wee Approve of your Schem of the half militia, nothing occurrs to us at present to be added to it, Bot still wee apprehend that there are difficultyes at bottome For which nether this Schem nor any other Schem will prove a true remedie without new Lawes And wee are resolved to send yow troops from this Kingdome In case yow shall happen to stand in nead of them Wee have considdered our proclamatione for putting the heretors in readiness to meet with there horses and armes when requyred wee are convinced of the use and necessity of this In case any dissorder happen in the countrey But as wee may hope for good effects from it So wee may apprehend badd ones unles by your care yow prevent them Wee allow of your desyreing the Commissioners of our theasurie to enter into contracts with merchands for bringing armes upon reasonable profite from Holland or any other place where they can be found And If a letter from us to the states be necessarie It shall be wreitten, yow would see that those armes be good And that they be sold only by your order and to such persones as have given or are readie to give sufficient documents of there fidelity to us Wee have signed the Commissiones for the Shirreffs and a new establishment and the other necessary orders for the paying of our army in tyme to come and preventing abuses It is our uill and pleasure That our Right trustie and Intirely beloved Cousigne and Councillour The Duke of Hamilton doe preside in the Chancellours absence in all Comissiones in which he is named or shall be named And that al our officers of state be added to the Late Commissione for auditeing the accompts Wee have fully considered the busines of the tuo Edinburgh Electiones And the heatt and fermentatione which decisiones at ane unseasonable tyme (as now appears) And about matters that might have borne a delay (since there wes no breach of the peace) have raised It is our will and pleasure that yow examine the grounds of the reductione of the new electione And that yow revise the wholl process againest the old one And fall upon expedients fitt to allay the animosityes which such a process and the Sentence that followed upon it have raised both in the toun and amongst your selves And so wee bidd yow heartily farewell Given² at our court at Kensingtoune the one and thirtieth day of Januarij J^aj vj^c nyntie three years and of our reigne the fourth year By His Majesties Command sic subscribitur James Johnstoune

At Edinburgh, 6 February 1693, council called extraordinary

A1693/2/10¹

Letter: royal

The king’s letter concerning the scheme of the militia, proclamation for calling out the heritors, bringing home arms, sheriffs’ new establishment, duke of Hamilton to preside in all commissions, officers of state to be auditors of accounts and the town of Edinburgh’s election.

A letter from the king to the council concerning the scheme of the militia and other things as on the margin, and being read in council was ordered to be recorded, whereof the tenor follows:
Superscribed: William Rex
Right trusty and right well beloved cousin and councillor, right trusty and entirely beloved cousins and councillors, right trusty and right well beloved cousin and councillor, right trusty and well beloved cousins and councillors, right trusty and well beloved councillors, trusty and well beloved councillors, we greet you well. We give you our thanks for your diligence in order to put the nation in a posture of security and defence. We approve of your scheme of the half militia, nothing occurs to us at present to be added to it, but still we apprehend that there are basic difficulties for which neither this scheme nor any other will prove a true remedy without new laws, and we are resolved to send you troops from this kingdom in case you shall happen to stand in need of them. We have considered our proclamation for putting the heritors in readiness to meet with their horses and arms when required. We are convinced of the use and necessity of this in case any disorder happens in the country, but as we may hope for good effects from it so we may apprehend bad ones unless by your care you prevent them. We allow of your desiring the commissioners of our treasury to enter into contracts with merchants for bringing arms upon reasonable profit from Holland or any other place where they can be found and if a letter from us to the states is necessary, it shall be written. You would see that those arms are good and that they be sold only by your order and to such persons as have given or are ready to give sufficient documents of their fidelity to us. We have signed the commissions for the sheriffs and a new establishment and the other necessary orders for the paying of our army in time to come and preventing abuses. It is our will and pleasure that our right trusty and entirely beloved cousin and councillor the duke of Hamilton presides in the chancellor’s absence in all commissions in which he is named or shall be named, and that all our officers of state be added to the recent commission for auditing the accounts. We have fully considered the business of the two Edinburgh elections and the heat and ferment which decisions at an unseasonable time (as now appears), and about matters that might have borne a delay (since there was no breach of the peace) have raised, it is our will and pleasure that you examine the grounds of the reduction of the new election and that you revise the whole process against the old one and fall upon expedients fit to allay the animosities which such a process and the sentence that followed upon it have raised, both in the town and amongst your selves. And so we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our court at Kensington, 31 January 1693 and of our reign the fourth year. By his majesty’s command. Subscribed: James Johnstone.

1. PC1/48, 573-4.